Sugar's story - Pekingese treated with Vetoryl (Sugar has passed)

[Sugar]

Hi
My dog Sugar, a white female spayed Pekingese, died 23 February, 2012. She was on vetoryl since she was diagnosed with Cushings a year and a half ago. Her ACTH test in August 2010 results: Serum 186 and Serum 2hours 914. The follow up ACTH test done on Sugar in September 2010, showed Serum 20.9 and Serum Post 58.7. The vetoryl was working for her. 14 Dec 2011, Serum Pre 11.6, Serum 2 hrs, 42.1.

Sugar was with me for ten years coming from a shelter in Ma/NH and it was thought she was around a year+ when they picked her up. For the first five years of her life she showed signs of being a very happy and healthy dog. She arrived at 12 pounds and put on two pounds and the vet was happy.

I did notice that Sugar made honking sounds after drinking and she also later developed What I thought to be reverse sneezing and at the same time her jaw would lock. I could stop this by placing my fingers in her mouth to open her jaw and once these spells were stopped she was good to go. I told several vets about these spells and no one seem to think they were serious.

The first outward physical signs of something going wrong with her body was that her eye sight was failing and then she was showing signs of slowing down in her walks and her play times but I thought that maybe she was actually older than they first thought. She also seemed to be a bit deaf. On occasion, Sugar had green matter in her eyes and the fur inside the skin fold over her nose was green. Sugar was a good eater and actually never drank a lot but did have a pot belly and a hump on her shoulders.

Then about a year and a half ago 3 July 2010, Sugar who was always a great sleeper through the night woke me up from her panting. I took her out, gave her water and tried her on a wet cool towel but nothing seemed to help. After about two hours she finally settled down and the next day was the same ole Sugar but this happened again the following night. So we went to the vets the next morning (5 Jul) and after xrays showing an enlarged heart, she was diagnosed with heart disease. The vet gave her a shot and some furosemide 40 mg to take aterwards. That night Sugar was terribly sick, vomiting and had diarrhea and so I called the vet and was told to stop giving her the furosemide. 10 July, her DHp tests showed high Urea, kidney dehydration, low alkaline phosphate, low amlose, low blood sugar and low chloride. She was given fluids subcutaneous and an antibiotic injection. 23 Jul, urinalysis. PH 6 smf BLD 10. 24 Jul, fluids subcutaneous and Fortekor tablets, 5 mg were prescribed with the same terrible results.
Now she no longer had any strength or interest to eat. She lost a pound and trying to get her to eat was a challenge. I tried everything from the most expensive food to the cheapest. 29 Jul, I took her to different vet who immediately said that he couldn't hear anything wrong with her heart but he suspected Cushings and once she put a pound on he would do a ACTH test. She put the weight back on, the test was done and confirmed that she had Cushings Diesease and she was put on vetroyl.
But Sugar's vitality never returned. She never got any worse but she never got any better although she had good blood work and urine results and good xrays.
Sugar's head hung down and her tail drooped down She was in the shape of a C and so she developed a problem with the disks in the centre of her back. Her hind legs could not support her and she struggled to walk. I got a doggie stroller and would take her out with the other dogs so she could be with us and enjoy some fresh air and a change of scenery. Her tongue although a nice healthy pink colour was weak and she could only eat soupy food but she still kept her weight at 14 pounds.
In September she had a spell in the middle of the night when her eyes moved from side to side. After talking to the vet she assured me that this would stop and it did in about an hour. I don't think she ever had one like that again.
The day before she died, she had a fainting spell. She went limp and her tongue was blue. I applied a gentle pressure to her back a bit like compressions in CPR. She came back and her tongue returned to it's normal pink color. The evening she had two more of these fainting spells only less of a degree of severity each time. I called the vet and it was decided that I should take her in to the clinic in the morning.
Once in the clinic the vet listened to her heart and couldn't see any change in the condition of it and did a urine test and an xray on her body and at that time the problem with the discs was located and that was suspected to be the problem. She was given a shot for any pain and some drops to take later once that wore off.
Once home again she seem to be resting well and later had something to eat and it wasn't long before she fell over and was gasping for air and died.
I suspect that it was a collasped trachea that she died from. Later reading web sites, I found that Cushings Disease can weaken the rings in the trachea and it becomes flat as a pancake, allowing no air to pass through to the lungs.
I have since watched on youtube how to perform CPR on a dog and had I know then what I know now could have tried to save my precious Sugar. It is a short video but very good information for dog owners to know.

[labblab]

Welcome to our forum, and thank you for sharing the story of your Sugar. I noticed that you had posted this reply elsewhere, and I have taken the liberty of moving it so as to start a brand new thread that is yours alone. I am so sorry that you've lost your baby. She was a very lucky girl to have lived out her life with you in her forever home. Even though it sounds as though she developed quite a few medical problems later on, you truly saved her life at that very early age when you first adopted her.

And thank you so much for the tip about the CPR video. You are so right -- it is something that every parent should know about but is so easily overlooked! So your reminder is a very helpful and important one.

I also want to let you know that we have a very special forum here in which all our members have the opportunity to honor and remember their pups who have passed on. It is called "In Loving Memory":

http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=8

If you would care to start a thread on that forum in honor of Sugar, it will be our privilege to read anything that you might wish to say. As you will see, some people write tributes, other just a few words, others have added poems. So in addition to this thread here, you can start another memorial thread for Sugar at any time. And you can write anything there that you wish -- anything at all that feels like a comfort or that helps with the healing.

Once again, I am so sorry for your loss. But I'm really glad you've found us so that we can help you honor your Sugar.

Marianne

[Sugar]

Please visit my blog for Sugar

http://sugar-cushingsdiseaseindogs.blogspot.com/2012/02/sugar-20-janurary-2002-23-february-2012.html

[labblab]

Oh, I've been to your blog, and Sugar was such a beautiful (and well-loved!) baby! I was able to pick up the date of her passing from your blog, and so she has now been added to our special "Remembering" thread, as well:

http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/showthread.php?p=68354#post68354

You have so many sweet photos of her on your blog. I will contact you a bit later to see if you'd like to upload one of those photos here for us to link to her memorial line.

Thank you for sharing your sweetie with us,
Marianne

[Sugar]

Thanks for all your help and suggestions and also kind comments on Sugar. She was a sweet girl, she is so sadly missed.

[mytil]

Oh Jean,

I am so very sorry. I know your little Sugar is one very lucky girl to have such a loving owner. You made her so happy through all of her problems.

I have added a photo to her name in the list Marianne mentioned.

Please do stay with us as we all know what you have gone through and will go through.

We will always remember Sugar (http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/album.php?albumid=435&pictureid=3595)

Also here is a link to your thread started in our In Loving Memory section to honoring your sweet girl... (http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4022)
Terry

[jmac]

Hi Jean,

I read your post and your blog, and I also wanted to tell you how sorry I am to hear you lost your sweet girl. She sure was adorable. She was so lucky to have someone who took such good care of her. I am so glad she was with you, in your arms, in the end. I am positive there is nowhere better she could have been. She went in peace, with the person she loved most.

Thank you, also, for the tip on CPR for pets. I spent a few minutes watching the video from the link you sent, as well as a couple of others.

Thanks for sharing your story about Sugar. We're here for you if you need support as you grieve...

Julie & Hannah

[Sugar]

Hi Jean,

I read your post and your blog, and I also wanted to tell you how sorry I am to hear you lost your sweet girl. She sure was adorable. She was so lucky to have someone who took such good care of her. I am so glad she was with you, in your arms, in the end. I am positive there is nowhere better she could have been. She went in peace, with the person she loved most.

Thank you, also, for the tip on CPR for pets. I spent a few minutes watching the video from the link you sent, as well as a couple of others.

Thanks for sharing your story about Sugar. We're here for you if you need support as you grieve...

Julie & Hannah

Thanks for reading my blog on Sugar and for watching the CPR video, I hope others will do the same. Sugar was a very special girl and life with never be the same now that she is gone. She was the wind beneath my wings, together we soared. We had a great ten years together but it went by like ten minutes. Thanks for your support. Jean

[Sugar]

Oh Jean,

I am so very sorry. I know your little Sugar is one very lucky girl to have such a loving owner. You made her so happy through all of her problems.

I have added a photo to her name in the list Marianne mentioned.

Please do stay with us as we all know what you have gone through and will go through.

We will always remember Sugar (http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/album.php?albumid=435&pictureid=3595)

Also here is a link to your thread started in our In Loving Memory section to honoring your sweet girl... (http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4022)
Terry

Thank you for adding the picture of Sugar, she looks so happy in that picture. I still can't believe that she is gone. Jean

[bgdavis]

I sorry for your loss of beloved Sugar. Thank you for rescuing her and taking such wonderful care of her.

Bonnie and Angel Criss Ann

[Sugar]

I sorry for your loss of beloved Sugar. Thank you for rescuing her and taking such wonderful care of her.

Bonnie and Angel Criss Ann
Thanks for your support, I really appreciate hearing from you, this is a great network of caring people.

[Altira]

I think that is the saddest story I've ever heard! I'm so so sorry. You were so brave.

[Sugar]

I think that is the saddest story I've ever heard! I'm so so sorry. You were so brave.

Thanks Janis, she was such a sweetie and had such a struggle her whole life. I had hoped with the unfair start she had as a puppy that God would have given her a longer time to live. I hope that no other little doggie has to have such a difficult time on this earth.

[Squirt's Mom]

Dear Jean,

Thank you for sharing Sugar's sweet story with us. It is easy to see the two of you had a great life together and that she was so very loved. I have no doubt that Sugar is so very grateful to you for saving her life, giving her a forever home that was so full of love and security, and for doing all you could to make her life as wonderful as possible.

She is now well and strong once again, watching over you just as you watched over her. And she knows that one day she will be in your arms for all eternity and she can cover your face with her kisses anytime she wants.

Please know we are here anytime you wish to talk. Your sweet girl will always be remembered and honored here as a member of our family.

Our sympathies,
Leslie, Squirt, Trinket, Brick, and our Angels, Ruby and Crystal




A Dogs Message from Heaven

I am sending you this message as I can see you are still having struggles with coping each day since my passing.

You may walk in darkness and your heart is broken with my absence. I haven't left you as you hold me in your heart. Please don't be sad as the light will come shinning through for you. For each day of sunshine, think of it as reminder of me beaming down on you. Be happy that I am no longer in pain from sickness or injury. I don't want you grieving for me for long as it makes me sad to see you in so much hurt. Don't dwell on the guilt you feel for making decisions we both know you had to do and I thank you for releasing me of my sickness.

Cry if you need to miss me if you must, but don't worry about me, I'm in a place I love.

Yesterday I talked with the Creator and he said you'd come one day. I wanted you to know this. So you see I'm happy and I am free. There's nothing to worry me. Dry your eyes and make plans to see me again. I will look for you and when you get here, you will see what a wonderful place this is.

Let me tell you what it's like here in this wonderful place. There are no clouds or dreary rain…Just lot of blue sky and sunshine casted on us from His most gracious presence. There are miles of green grassy fields and meadows of beautiful flowers.

There are no cruel humans to hurt us, just the keepers who have been specially chosen to care for us...

We all get along here large and small. Some of us had a pretty rough life while others were very spoiled. We run and play tag or chase balls. We can be lazy as we want and take long naps. The Creator checks on us each day.

I have met many of your friend’s fur kids here.

It's been neat to see my brothers and sisters again that came here before me. There is never a sad moment. Just so much to keep busy....We get a lot of new kids arriving daily and is fun to show them the ropes here.

We are here waiting here for you when your purpose on Earth is complete. My wish for you is to be happy for me and not sad. It will be the most happiest of reunions and I will lick away all your tears. There will be nothing but good times for ever and ever.

I will let you feel my presence if you will just have faith and allow it to happen.

When the time is right and it will come, I want you to take in another fur kid to care for just as you cared for me and protected me from all harm and gave me the security that I needed all those years. They deserve the life I had with you. Don't think of it as replacing me but giving another the love you have inside you to bring joy to another. I felt honored to a part of your life and you gave me so much of yourself.... That will always be special.

You were my life and I will always love you for that.

I am not that far away and I will be close to you in spirit and will remain in your heart. That is the bond that connects us. Do not think of me when I was at my worst but all the great memories we shared together. I hate to see you cry. I am happy here so be glad for me.

I want to be remembered for all the silly things I did and things we did together. We had some great times together.... So cherish those memories.

So my best friend, until your task on Earth is finished, take care of yourself and help another less fortunate kid to know the love I shared with you and you will be forever rewarded. You will know when the time is right.

Love you Forever,
Your 4 legged soul-mate.

Author...Kay Faulkner

[Sugar]

I have changed the address for Sugar's blog.

http://cushingsdiseaseindogspekingesesugar.blogspot.ca/2012/02/sugar-20-janurary-2002-23-february-2012.html

[Sugar]

Dear Jean,

Thank you for sharing Sugar's sweet story with us. It is easy to see the two of you had a great life together and that she was so very loved. I have no doubt that Sugar is so very grateful to you for saving her life, giving her a forever home that was so full of love and security, and for doing all you could to make her life as wonderful as possible.

She is now well and strong once again, watching over you just as you watched over her. And she knows that one day she will be in your arms for all eternity and she can cover your face with her kisses anytime she wants.

Please know we are here anytime you wish to talk. Your sweet girl will always be remembered and honored here as a member of our family.

Our sympathies,
Leslie, Squirt, Trinket, Brick, and our Angels, Ruby and Crystal




A Dogs Message from Heaven

I am sending you this message as I can see you are still having struggles with coping each day since my passing.

You may walk in darkness and your heart is broken with my absence. I haven't left you as you hold me in your heart. Please don't be sad as the light will come shinning through for you. For each day of sunshine, think of it as reminder of me beaming down on you. Be happy that I am no longer in pain from sickness or injury. I don't want you grieving for me for long as it makes me sad to see you in so much hurt. Don't dwell on the guilt you feel for making decisions we both know you had to do and I thank you for releasing me of my sickness.

Cry if you need to miss me if you must, but don't worry about me, I'm in a place I love.

Yesterday I talked with the Creator and he said you'd come one day. I wanted you to know this. So you see I'm happy and I am free. There's nothing to worry me. Dry your eyes and make plans to see me again. I will look for you and when you get here, you will see what a wonderful place this is.

Let me tell you what it's like here in this wonderful place. There are no clouds or dreary rain…Just lot of blue sky and sunshine casted on us from His most gracious presence. There are miles of green grassy fields and meadows of beautiful flowers.

There are no cruel humans to hurt us, just the keepers who have been specially chosen to care for us...

We all get along here large and small. Some of us had a pretty rough life while others were very spoiled. We run and play tag or chase balls. We can be lazy as we want and take long naps. The Creator checks on us each day.

I have met many of your friend’s fur kids here.

It's been neat to see my brothers and sisters again that came here before me. There is never a sad moment. Just so much to keep busy....We get a lot of new kids arriving daily and is fun to show them the ropes here.

We are here waiting here for you when your purpose on Earth is complete. My wish for you is to be happy for me and not sad. It will be the most happiest of reunions and I will lick away all your tears. There will be nothing but good times for ever and ever.

I will let you feel my presence if you will just have faith and allow it to happen.

When the time is right and it will come, I want you to take in another fur kid to care for just as you cared for me and protected me from all harm and gave me the security that I needed all those years. They deserve the life I had with you. Don't think of it as replacing me but giving another the love you have inside you to bring joy to another. I felt honored to a part of your life and you gave me so much of yourself.... That will always be special.

You were my life and I will always love you for that.

I am not that far away and I will be close to you in spirit and will remain in your heart. That is the bond that connects us. Do not think of me when I was at my worst but all the great memories we shared together. I hate to see you cry. I am happy here so be glad for me.

I want to be remembered for all the silly things I did and things we did together. We had some great times together.... So cherish those memories.

So my best friend, until your task on Earth is finished, take care of yourself and help another less fortunate kid to know the love I shared with you and you will be forever rewarded. You will know when the time is right.

Love you Forever,
Your 4 legged soul-mate.

Author...Kay Faulkner


Hi Leslie
Thanks for the kind words and the lovely story written by Kay Faulkner. Recently, I have adopted a 1 yr old Peke and a 3 yr old Pom. They are full of energy and love but my loss of Sugar still comsumes me and my days and nights are so full pain and tears. She was my life and I miss her so much. Jean

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi Jean,

I hope your new little ones will help heal your pain and bring back some joy into your life. We never stop missing our babies nor does the pain ever completely leave, but we can learn to see beyond it and find beauty once again.

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

[Sugar]

Hi Jean,

I hope your new little ones will help heal your pain and bring back some joy into your life. We never stop missing our babies nor does the pain ever completely leave, but we can learn to see beyond it and find beauty once again.

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

Thanks Lesie,
Sugar was the love of my life and I know I must try to move on with these new little girls for their sakes but right now it just isn't happening. Maybe I adopted too soon.

[apollo6]

Thank you for writing Sugars story. I cried thought. You are telling all our stories. Sugar was indeed one of our brave Cushing fur balls. I am so sorry for the lose of your precious Sugar.
May your Angel Sugar watch over you. We never can fill the whole they leave. They are God's gift to us. The time we have with them is so short. We are left with the love and beautiful memories.
Hugs Sonja and Apollo

[Altira]

It always does my heart good to hear of others who get a new dog soon after lossing one. I don't believe in letting dogs suffer, nor do I think the humans loosing them should suffer either. I have lost four huskies now and each time followed quickly with another. Nothing can stop the pain from the one lost but a smile in the midest of loss is not a bad thing. Everyone is differant I understand that. But i sure am glad when I run into someone who does like I do. I just can't bare to be without a dog.

[Sugar]

Thank you for writing Sugars story. I cried thought. You are telling all our stories. Sugar was indeed one of our brave Cushing fur balls. I am so sorry for the lose of your precious Sugar.
May your Angel Sugar watch over you. We never can fill the whole they leave. They are God's gift to us. The time we have with them is so short. We are left with the love and beautiful memories.
Hugs Sonja and Apollo

Hi Sonja and Appolo
Thank you so much for reading Sugar's story, I am sorry it is so sad but Cushings is such a dreadful disease and I still miss her so much. Everyone on this site are so kind and say such comforting things. You are right, she was God's gift to me and I knew for a short time what real love is. Some go their whole life time not knowing.
Jean

[Sugar]

Hi Janice, Thanks for your support and kind words. In Sugar's memory I wanted to give another rescue dog a home. I have to say that the great people who foster have to be very special people to love them and then give them up. If only dog's lives weren't so short or time with them didn't go so fast. The ten years I had with Sugar went by like ten seconds. I guess it is like the old saying, when you are having fun, time flies. Jean

[Tuffy]

Dear Jean:

I am so sorry for your loss. Sugar was a beautiful pekingese. Thank you for sharing your story about Sugar. It helped me recognize some symptoms that my dog has that we had attributed to his forner dental problems when we first got him. But they developed later and they are the same symptoms Sugar had, the reverse sneezing symptoms and honking after drinking. Also, I wanted to thank you for the information on pet CPR and where to find the video. I have been on a waiting list for five years with the Red Cross to be able to take a class on pet CPR but the classes are few and the waiting list is quite long so now I will be able to find out how to do it. Thank you. Again I am so sorry about Sugar. We lost one dog at the end of April and are dealing with Tuffy's Cushings so I know how hard it is to lose one of your own.

Tuffy's mom

[Sugar]

Almost 2 years ago my Sugar was misdiagnosed with heart disease and put on Furosemide 40 mg which caused her to have bloody diarrhea and vomit. She was taken off the pill and 5 days later back to the vet. She had lost a pound. 24 Jul she was given Fortekor 5 mg BP with the same dreadful results.
Would anyone else have had this awful experience and or know why those two heart meds would have caused such serious results? Shortly afterwards I changed vets who immediately suspected that she had Cushings Disease.
The days before I initially took Sugar to the vets, she was walking and eating as she normally did. After the two disasterous rounds with the meds, she could not longer walk or pick up her food with her tongue.

[Sugar]

Dear Jean:

I am so sorry for your loss. Sugar was a beautiful pekingese. Thank you for sharing your story about Sugar. It helped me recognize some symptoms that my dog has that we had attributed to his forner dental problems when we first got him. But they developed later and they are the same symptoms Sugar had, the reverse sneezing symptoms and honking after drinking. Also, I wanted to thank you for the information on pet CPR and where to find the video. I have been on a waiting list for five years with the Red Cross to be able to take a class on pet CPR but the classes are few and the waiting list is quite long so now I will be able to find out how to do it. Thank you. Again I am so sorry about Sugar. We lost one dog at the end of April and are dealing with Tuffy's Cushings so I know how hard it is to lose one of your own.

Tuffy's mom

So sorry to hear that your too are grieving the loss of your beloved dog.
I was lucky to attend a Pet First Aid Course give by The St John Ambulance group in our area. I hope that you too will soon be able to attend one in your area. I would say that knowing where the dog's pulse is located is one of the first things to find out and then how to apply compressions.
Also when Sugar's jaw would clamp shut I would give her a sort of heinekin maneuver by holding her ribs next to mine and giving her a quick compression.
Good luck with getting in on a First Aid Course and also with Tuffy's Cushings.
Sugar's Mom

[Sugar]

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/07/11/lawn-pesticides-on-canine-lymphoma.aspx

[Sugar]

Diabetes is a primary cause of cataracts in dogs. Another common cause of cataracts in dogs is toxicity from drugs like vaccines, heartworm preventives, and flea/tick medications.